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Proton Persona Sei Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Proton Persona Sei car check

Is the Proton Persona Sei reliable? We analysed 1,738 real MOT tests across 413 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,738 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
61.9%
Typical Mileage
77,206mi
Annual Mileage
6,020mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
32yrs

The Proton Persona Sei is below average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include parking brake: efficiency below requirements, steering rack gaiter split and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Proton Persona Sei.

Proton Persona Sei Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Proton Persona Sei. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Proton Persona Sei MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Proton Persona Sei to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

63.7%
1997
63%
1996
59.6%
1995
60.8%
1994

Proton Persona Sei Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Proton Persona Sei fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 231
Steering rack gaiter split 193
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 187
parking brake recording little or no effort 117
Registration plate lamp not working 108
Stop lamp not working 95
position lamp(s) not working 92
Parking brake lever has no reserve travel 87
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 82
Brake pipe excessively corroded 68

Proton Persona Sei Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Proton Persona Sei owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
3,832 mi/yr
Typical
6,020 mi/yr
Average
7,225 mi/yr
Heavy usage
9,075 mi/yr

Proton Persona Sei MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Proton Persona Sei year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1997 375 63.7% 61,866 77,186 97,132
1996 476 63.0% 63,336 75,716 94,091
1995 446 59.6% 61,254 77,260 93,227
1994 370 60.8% 64,956 81,465 103,620

How Long Does a Proton Persona Sei Last?

Based on 413 Proton Persona Sei vehicles on UK roads.

Average
11.7 years
Median
12.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
32 years

Proton Persona Sei Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Proton Persona Sei MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
77,206 mi
75th Percentile
96,342 mi
95th Percentile
132,404 mi
Max Recorded
998,939 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Proton Persona Sei

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
1997

63.7% MOT pass rate from 375 tests

Year to avoid
1995

59.6% MOT pass rate from 446 tests

The best year to buy a used Proton Persona Sei is 1997, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 63.7% across 375 tests. The 1995 model year has the lowest pass rate at 59.6% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Proton Persona Sei Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Proton Persona Sei THIS CAR 61.9% 1,738 77,206 mi 32 yrs
Proton Persona 66% 104,196 68,588 mi 32 yrs
Proton GEN-2 70.5% 59,272 46,580 mi 22 yrs
Proton Wira 70.1% 57,151 47,970 mi 26 yrs
Moto Roma Uq 300 (quad Bike) 77.5% 530 898 mi 22 yrs

Compared to the Proton Persona (66.0% pass rate) and the Proton GEN-2 (70.5% pass rate), the Proton Persona Sei trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Proton Persona Sei?

The Proton Persona Sei has an overall MOT pass rate of 61.9% across 1,738 real MOT tests — below the UK average, so reliability should be a key concern.

The most common problems on the Proton Persona Sei are parking brake: efficiency below requirements (231 recorded failures), steering rack gaiter split (193), and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (187). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Proton Persona Sei owner drives around 6,020 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Proton Persona Sei models stay on UK roads for around 32 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Proton Persona Sei — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Proton Persona Sei reliable?
Based on 1,738 MOT tests, the Proton Persona Sei has a 61.9% pass rate — below average, so factor in potential repair costs.
What are the common problems on a Proton Persona Sei?
The most common MOT failures are parking brake: efficiency below requirements, steering rack gaiter split, and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Proton Persona Sei do per year?
The typical Proton Persona Sei does around 6,020 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Proton Persona Sei last?
Most Proton Persona Sei models stay on UK roads for around 32 years based on our analysis of 413 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Proton Persona Sei?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Proton Persona Sei?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Proton Persona Sei is 1997 with a 63.7% pass rate across 375 tests.